When confetti falls from the ceiling and One Shining Moment plays in the background as a national champion is crowned on April 8, it'll be the culmination of a three-week stretch that starts Tuesday night in which we can expect one thing: The unexpected.

The NCAA tournament never fails to deliver with surprises, evidenced by Florida Gulf Coast's storybook run to the Sweet 16 in last year's Big Dance.

It's that Cinderella moment that perhaps stands just as memorable as Louisville's national championship journey. We don't remember 1999 for Connecticut's championship as much as we remember it for Gonzaga's Elite Eight run. We don't remember 2006 for Florida's first of two consecutive national titles as much as we remember it for George Mason's Final Four run. And so on...

The term, Cinderella can be widely defined, but for argument's sake, the term can fall under this window: A mid-major team outside of a power conference and not from the Atlantic 10 or Mountain West (two in-between leagues) that has a double-digit seed. Basically, a team we knew little about until the tournament that has the ability to captivate us with a oh-no-they-didn't upset.

FGCU's storied run last year wouldn't have happened if the Eagles didn't win the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The automatic bids awarded to these teams from smaller leagues have led to some of the tournament's best moments.

"Automatic bids are an absolute joke," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas says of the earned admission tickets to the NCAAs.

Let the jokes keep on coming.

Here's a look at the favorites to become NCAA tourney darlings in this year's tournament, ranked based on Cinderella potential and their second-round matchup.

1. North Dakota State: The Bison rank first in the country in field goal percentage. Taylor Braun, a versatile 6-7 guard, could cause matchup problems for an Oklahoma squad that relies too heavily on outside shooting.

2. Stephen F. Austin: This team has the making to be 2014's version of Florida Gulf Coast. Riding a 28-game winning streak and Southland Player of the Year Jacob Parker, the Lumberjacks are dangerous and play in a similar style to Virginia Commonwealth with an emphasis on forcing turnovers.

3. Harvard: Harvard is one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country, and if Cincinnati struggles shooting — which happens often — and the Crimson continue to rebound well, the Bearcats could stumble. Harvard pulled off an upset in last year's tournament, beating New Mexico.

4. New Mexico State: Steve Fisher has piloted San Diego State to a No. 4 seed, but the Aggies have the capability to pull off the upset, having beaten New Mexico in non-conference play. New Mexico State big man Sim Bhullar, a 7-5 center, will draw major headlines, but Daniel Mullings is the team's offensive sparkplug, averaging 16.8 points a game.

5. Western Michigan: Jim Boeheim will be the first to tell you his team hasn't truly dominated opponents this season, evidence coming in a bevy of close ACC victories against basement teams and a pair of head-scratching losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College. Western Michigan, the Mid-American Conference Tournament champion, won't be the most hyped Cinderella sleeper. But David Brown (19.4 ppg) and Shayne Whittington (16.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg) make for a potent inside-out presence that could counter 'Cuse's matchup 2-3 zone.

6. Mercer: The Bears defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. And as hot as FGCU got last year, Mercer was arguably the better team from that conference. The team is led by Langston Hall, a senior guard who averages 14.7 points and 5.6 assists and shoots 40% from beyond the arc.

7. Louisiana-Lafayette: Junior guard Elfrid Payton can put the Ragin' Cajuns on his back, evidenced by four outings with 30 points or more this season. They face Creighton in the second round.

8. Delaware: Michigan State is a tremendously tough draw, especially if the Big Ten tournament champion Spartans are finally starting to hit their national title groove. There's plenty of ammunition for an upset on this squad, though. Devon Saddler, Davon Usher and Jarvis Threatt make for a lethal offensive trio and one of them could break out. They all average more than 18 points.

9. Manhattan: The Jaspers are coached by former Louisville assistant Steve Masiello and paced on both sides of the floor by senior guard-forward George Beamon, who plays with a pitbull-like aggressiveness and was granted a medical redshirt after missing a bulk of last season with an injury. Masiello runs this team strikingly similar to Louisville, the team's second-round opponent.

10. Tulsa: Coached by Kansas great Danny Manning, the Golden Hurricane enter the tournament on an 11-game winning streak that included a Conference USA tournament championship against favorites Southern Mississippi, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech. James Woodard had 27 points in the C-USA tournament title game and could become a March star.

11. Wisconsin-Milwaukee: The Panthers upset Horizon League favorite Green Bay, a team that would have been a Cinderella favorite had it gotten an-at large bid. Milwaukee has won five games in a row and faces a somewhat shaky opponent in Villanova, a team that was just upset by Seton Hall in the Big East tournament.

12. American: The Eagles are one of the best shooting teams in the country statistically, making 50% of their shots. American's potent offense features four players averaging double-figures. It starts with sophomore guard Jesse Reed, who averages 13.9 points a game.

13. Wofford: The Terriers benefited from an upset-filled Southern Conference tournament that saw three of the top seeds beaten in early rounds. Still, this is a team with upset potential based on a structured motion offense that takes plenty of time off the clock. Guard Karl Cochran can light it up and if this team gets hot and controls the tempo, Big Ten regular-season champ Michigan could be in trouble.

14. Eastern Kentucky: The backcourt of Glenn Cosey and Corey Walden give the Colonels two dynamic catalysts to drive an upset. Eastern Kentucky won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament by beating Belmont, a team that took down North Carolina in non-conference action.

15. North Carolina Central: The Eagles enter the tourney as hot as any team, having won 20 games in a row. They'll face similarly hot Iowa State. Jeremy Ingram is an underrated star in this NCAA tournament. The senior guard averages 20.6 points a game.

16. Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers have an upset recipe based on depth and defense, two key ingredients for Cinderellas. A 10-man rotation allows Coastal Carolina to excel better defensively and a three-guard attack of Warren Gill, Josh Cameron and Elijah Wilson make this team dangerous on the offensive end.

17. Texas Southern: The Tigers are led by West Virginia transfer Aaric Murray, who averages 21.1 points and 7.7 rebounds. The team's entire offense runs through Murray, who had 48 points in a win against Temple.

18. Weber State: The Wildcats missed the field of 68 last season despite a 30-7 record. This year they'll get their chance, albeit as a No. 16 seed against Arizona. Weber State brought back three starters from last year's squad, including do-everything player Davion Berry.

19. Brigham Young: Since BYU is an NCAA tournament regular, it's difficult to toss them in the same category as the rest of the teams, but the Cougars haven't been able to put together a Cinderella run yet. After barely squeezing in the field of 68, there's potential for an upset behind dynamic scorer Tyler Haws.

20. Gonzaga: Again, it's not completely fair to put the 'Zags in this mix as this is the program's 16th consecutive tourney appearance. Considering, however, this is the team that captured the nation's attention in the 1990s and the fact that it hasn't been as far as the Elite Eight since then leaves room for a surprise factor.

From The USA TODAY NETWORK

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Most unforgettable NCAA tourney losses in Syracuse history

Coaches always say they remember the big losses more than the big wins. Suffice to say, I'm sure these ones are stamped in coach Jim Boeheim's memory. Reporter Jeff DiVeronica offers a list of the most unforgettable tournament losses in Syracuse history. Comment here if you have another game to add to the list.

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Coach Jim Boeheim yells to his players during Syracuse's second-round game against Rhode Island in 1988.AP photo

Unforgettable losses

5) (tie) 94 not enough against Rams

Date: March 19, 1988

Round: Second round

Score:(11) Rhode Island 97, (3) Syracuse 94

What happened: The third-seeded Orange were stunned by the Rams, a No. 11 seed, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Guard Tom Garrick scored 28 points and became a feel-good NCAA story because his father was blind and was the focus of many cutaway shots by TV cameras. Rhode Island had upset No. 6 Missouri in the first round. It was the ninth time in its last 10 NCAA appearances that SU failed to advance past the second round.

Illinois' Kenny Battle leaves the court with the net after helping his team clinch a spot in the Final Four in 1989.AP photo

Unforgettable losses

5) (tie) Journey ends early

Date: March 26, 1989

Round: Elite 8

Score:(1) Illinois 89, (2) Syracuse 86

What happened: In a game featuring two high-powered lineups, the top-seeded Illini grabbed the Final Four spot at stake in Minneapolis. The No. 2 Orange were one of SU's most talented teams with Sherman Douglas, Derrick Coleman, Billy Owens, Stephen Thompson and Matt Roe as starters with future future NBA first-rounders Dave Johnson and Richard Manning off the bench. Illinois had star-power, too, with Kendall Gill, Stephen Bardo, Kenny Battle, Nick Anderson and Marcus Liberty.

A file photo of David Robinson while playing for Navy. AP photo

Unforgettable losses

4) Dome is Mr. Robinson's neighborhood for a day

Date: March 16, 1986

Round: Second round

Score:(7) Navy 97, (2) Syracuse 85

What happened: David "The Admiral" Robinson sunk the second-seeded Orange in their own house, as 21,713 fans at the Carrier Dome looked on in disbelief. The 7-foot junior was unstoppable, terrorizing Rony Seikaly and six other players who fouled him. Robinson made 21 of 27 free throws en route to a 35-point, 11-rebound, 9-block game -- the last in Pearl Washington's three-season SU career. Just two of Navy's 28 baskets were scored outside the lane.

Hakim Warrick can't believe his team is on the verge of a first-round exit against Vermont.AP photo

Unforgettable losses

3) Stunned 'from the parking lot'

Date: March 18, 2005

Round: First round

Score:(13) Vermont 60, (4) Syracuse 57 OT

What happened: Taylor Coppenrath, T.J. Sorrentine and Germain Mopa Njila. Names no SU fan knew all season, but three players who led the No. 14 Catamounts to a stunning upset of Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara & Co. in 2005. The Big East Tournament champs played like they were waiting to flip a switch in Worcester, Mass. It never happened, and Sorrentine supplied the final dagger, drilling what turned out to be the game-winning shot -- a three-pointer from 28 feet.

What happened: The Orangemen made some infamous history in College Park, Md., becoming the first No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 15, giving arachnophobia to SU fans everywhere. The Spiders shot 62 percent in the first half to take a 44-36 lead and held on for the upset. It would be the last game All-American forward Billy Owens played for SU because he turned pro after his junior year.

What happened: Keith Smart's baseline jumper with four seconds left, forever etched in the nightmares of SU fans, won it for the Hoosiers in New Orleans. A junior-college transfer, Smart scored 12 of his team's last 15 points after Steve Alford made seven three-pointers in the first 29 minutes. Bob Knight and Indiana spoiled Jim Boeheim's first trip to the Final Four as head coach.

A Syracuse fan is stunned in the final seconds of the Orange's 2011 tournament loss to Marquette, which may just make some fans' top 5 lists. SHAWN DOWD / Staff photographer

Unforgettable losses

What about you?

Seldom is there a top 5 ranking in sports on which most people can agree top to bottom. Is there a Syracuse NCAA tournament loss not on Devo's list that deserves a mention? Which game was it and why is it etched in your memory?

Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse men's basketball team have racked up plenty of NCAA tournament wins through the years. These ones stand out from the rest. Reporter Jeff DiVeronica offers a list of the most memorable tournament wins in Syracuse history. Comment here if you have another game to add to the list.

What happened: Former Prattsburgh star Marius Janulis saved fifth-seeded SU from a first-round upset by knocking down a top-of-the key three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left after a play for Todd Burgan broke down at Rupp Arena. It was the Lithuania native's second three-pointer in the final minute for SU, which featured the talented trio of Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Pittsford Sutherland's Ryan Blackwell.

Carmelo Anthony, right, and Hakim Warrick talk during Syracuse's game against Texas in the 2003 Final Four.

Memorable wins

5) (tie) Melo goes off

Date: April 5, 2003

Round: Final Four

Score:(3) Syracuse 95, (2) Texas 84

What happened: On this night, Carmelo Anthony stamped himself as National Player of the Year and not just Freshman of the Year. Anthony scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to take down the top-seeded Longhorns at the Superdome. It was his career high in points and his 21st double-double.

Gerry MacNamara cuts down the net after Syracuse beat Oklahoma to get to the Final Four in 2003.AP photo

Memorable wins

4) Big 12's best not a problem

Date: March 30, 2003

Round: Elite 8

Score:(3) Syracuse 63, (1) Oklahoma 47

What happened: The Orangemen beat four Big 12 teams during their run to the national title, but no victory was more decisive than their demolition of the top-seeded Sooners with a trip to the Final Four on the line. In Albany's Orange-tinted Pepsi Arena, Oklahoma shot just 31 percent (18-for-58), including 5-for-28 from three-point range and looked lost against SU's 2-3 zone. "We hadn't seen a zone like that," Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson said.

What happened: Jim Boeheim reached his first Final Four as a head coach by knocking off the top-seeded Tar Heels and legendary coach Dean Smith in the Meadowlands. Rony Seikaly had 26 points and 11 rebounds as he and freshman forward Derrick Coleman (8 points, 14 rebounds) lifted the Orange past Carolina, which had stud rookie J.R. Reid and veteran point guard, Kenny Smith.

What happened: John Wallace's leaning, three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left won it for the fourth-seeded Orangemen, who needed Jason Cipolla's baseline jumper off Wallace's long inbounds pass just to force OT in Denver. Wallace, a Greece Athena grad and senior star, had 30 points and 15 rebounds. "I just decided to let him go," Boeheim said about not calling timeout before the final play. "I didn't think he'd make it, but he never does what I think."

Carmelo Anthony cuts down the net after Syracuse defeated Kansas for the 2003 national championship.AP photo

Memorable wins

1) The biggest win of all

Date: April 7, 2003

Round: Championship game

Score:(3) Syracuse 81, (2) Kansas 78

What happened: The moment Orange fans had longed for finally arrived after Hakim Warrick blocked Michael Lee's three-point shot with 1.5 seconds left in the Superdome, giving Syracuse and coach Jim Boeheim their only title. Gerry McNamara hit six three-pointers in the first half for the third-seeded Orange and fellow freshman Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and 10 rebounds to cap his only college season with a crown.

A Syracuse fan cheers on the Orange during the 2013 tournament.AP photo

Memorable wins

What about you?

Seldom is there a top 5 ranking in sports on which most people can agree top to bottom. Is there a Syracuse NCAA tournament win not on Devo's list that deserves a mention? Which game was it and why is it etched in your memory